Process and assembly for flush connecting evaporator sections of juxtaposed heat pipes to a fixing base

ABSTRACT

A process for flush connecting evaporator sections of juxtaposed heat pipes to a fixing base and forming a plane includes the steps of: providing a fixing base with its bottom surface having an accommodating trough; providing at least two heat pipes each having an evaporator section and a condenser section; disposing the evaporator sections of the heat pipes in the accommodating trough; and machining the evaporator sections of the juxtaposed heat pipes, thereby forming a plane on the evaporator sections of the heat pipe. Via the above process, the evaporator sections of the heat pipes can be juxtaposed in and flush connected to the fixing base, thereby increasing the contact area between the evaporator sections of the heat pipes and a heat-generating element. It further provides an assembly for flush connecting evaporator sections of juxtaposed heat pipes to a fixing base and forming a plane.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a heat-dissipating device, and inparticular to a heat-dissipating device having a plurality of heat pipesand a process for making the same.

2. Description of Prior Art

Since heat pipes have many advantageous features such as largeheat-conducting capacity, high heat-transferring rate, light weight,simple structure, versatility, capability of transferring large amountof heat without consuming any electricity, low price etc., they arewidely used in dissipating the heat generated by electronic elements.Via the heat pipes, the heat generated by electronic heat-generatingelements can be dissipated quickly, thereby overcoming the heataccumulation occurring in the electronic heat-generating elements atcurrent stage.

Please refer to FIG. 1. When the heat pipe is used in a heat-dissipatingdevice of an electronic product, in order to transfer and dissipate theheat generated by the heat-generating elements more quickly, a pluralityof heat pipes 20 a is disposed on a heat-conducting base 10 a to performthe heat dissipation. Thus, a plurality through slots 101 a is providedat intervals on the heat-conducting base 10 a, so that the evaporatorsections 201 a of the heat pipes 20 a can be disposed in the throughslots 101 a respectively. Then, the heat-conducting base 10 a with theevaporators 201 a of the heat pipes 20 a being disposed therein isadhered to a heat-generating element (not shown), so that theheat-conducting base 10 a and the heat-generating element can bethermally connected with each other. Condenser sections 202 a on theother side of the heat pipes 20 a are provided with a plurality ofheat-dissipating fins (not shown). With the large heat-conductingcapacity of the heat pipe 20 a, the heat generated by theheat-generating element can be transferred to each heat-dissipating finvia the heat pipes 20 a, thereby dissipating the heat of theheat-generating element continuously and lowering the temperaturethereof. Furthermore, with an associated heat-dissipating fan, the heataccumulated in the respective heat-dissipating fins can be dissipatedquickly, thereby achieving a good heat-dissipating effect.

In the above assembly, a separating plate 102 a has to be formed betweeneach through slot 101 a on the heat-conducting base 10 a, so that theheat pipes 20 a can be arranged on the heat-conducting base 10 a atintervals. Although the separating plates 102 a can allow the evaporatorsections of the respective heat pipes 20 a to be received in the throughslots 101 a, these separating plates 102 a only make the evaporatorsections 201 a of the heat pipes 20 a and the heat-generating element tobe brought into a line contact but not a surface contact when theevaporator sections 201 a of the heat pipes 20 a are adhered to theheat-generating element. As a result, the contacting area between theevaporator sections 201 a of the heat pipes 20 a and the heat-generatingelement is reduced, and in turn, the heat-conducting effect of the heatpipes 20 a on the heat-generating element is affected. Thus, the heatgenerated by the heat-generating element cannot be dissipatedimmediately.

Therefore, it is an important issue for the present Inventor to overcomethe above problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to provide a process and an assembly for flushconnecting evaporator sections of juxtaposed heat pipes to a fixingbase, whereby the contacting area between the evaporator sections of theheat pipes and a heat-generating element can be increased so as todissipate the heat of the heat-generating element quickly and improvethe heat-conducting efficiency.

The present invention is to provide a process and an assembly for flushconnecting evaporator sections of juxtaposed heat pipes to a fixingbase. The process includes the steps of: a) providing a fixing base withits bottom surface having an accommodating trough; b) providing at leasttwo heat pipes each having an evaporator section and a condensersection; c) disposing the evaporator sections of the heat pipes in theaccommodating trough; and d) machining the evaporator sections of thejuxtaposed heat pipes, thereby forming a plane on the evaporatorsections of the heat pipe.

The present invention is to provide a process and an assembly for flushconnecting evaporator sections of juxtaposed heat pipes to a fixingbase. With the evaporator sections of the heat pipes being formed into aplane that is higher than or in flush with the bottom surface of thefixing base, the evaporator sections of the heat pipes can be broughtinto a surface contact with the heat-generating element, therebydissipating the heat of the heat-generating element quickly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the combination of heat pipes and aheat-conducting base in prior art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of thefixing base of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention showing theevaporator sections of two of the heat pipes being pressed in anaccommodating trough;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention showing theevaporator sections of at least two heat pipes being pressed into anaccommodating trough;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a step of machining the evaporatorsections of juxtaposed heat pipes by a die according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is an assembled cross-sectional view showing the plane formed onthe evaporator sections of the heat pipes of the present invention beingin flush with the bottom surface of the fixing base;

FIG. 8 is an assembled cross-sectional view showing the plane formed onthe evaporator sections of the heat pipes of the present invention beinghigher than the bottom surface of the fixing base;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the operating state of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a process of an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description and technical contents of the present inventionwill be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. However,the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the presentinvention.

Please refer to FIGS. 2 to 6. The present invention provides a processfor flush connecting evaporator sections of juxtaposed heat pipes to afixing base. First, a fixing base 10 is provided. A bottom surface 11 ofthe fixing base 10 is provided with an accommodating trough 12.Furthermore, at least two heat pipes 20 are provided, in which a wickstructure and a working fluid are filled. In the present embodiment,there are three heat pipes 20. Next, evaporator sections 21 of the heatpipes 20 are disposed in the accommodating trough 12. The evaporatorsection 21 of one of the heat pipes 20 is first disposed in theaccommodating trough 12, and then the evaporator section 21 of at leastone heat pipe 20 is pressed into the accommodating trough 12. In thepresent embodiment, the evaporator sections 21 of two of the heat pipes20 are disposed in the accommodating trough 12, and then the evaporatorsection 21 of at least one heat pipe 20 is pressed into theaccommodating trough 12. In practice, the evaporator sections 21 of theheat pipes 20 are juxtaposed on the accommodating trough 12, and thenthe evaporator sections 21 of the juxtaposed heat pipes 20 are pressedinto the accommodating trough 12. Finally, via a machining step such asrolling, pressing or die-pressing, a pressing die 30 is used in thepresent embodiment to roll the evaporator sections 21 of the juxtaposedheat pipes 20 at least one time, so that a plane 200 can be formed onthe evaporator sections 21 of the heat pipes 20. Thus, the evaporatorsections 21 of the juxtaposed heat pipes 20 can be flush connected intothe accommodating trough 12 of the fixing base 10.

Please refer to FIG. 7, which is an assembled cross-sectional viewshowing the assembly for flush connecting the evaporator sections of thejuxtaposed heat pipes to the fixing base according to the presentinvention. The bottom surface 11 of the fixing base 10 has anaccommodating trough 12. The evaporator sections 21 of at least two heatpipes 20 are juxtaposed in the accommodating trough 12. In the presentembodiment, three heat pipes 20 are provided. The evaporator sections 21of the juxtaposed heat pipes 20 are machined to form a plane 200. Theplane 200 formed on the evaporator sections 21 of the heat pipes 20 isin flush with the bottom surface 11 of the fixing base 10. Please referto FIG. 8, which is different from FIG. 7 in that: after machining, theplane 200 formed on the evaporator sections 21 of the heat pipes 20 ishigher than the bottom surface 11 of the fixing base 10.

Please refer FIG. 9, which is a schematic view showing an operatingstate of the present invention. The evaporator sections 21 of the heatpipes 20 are machined to form a plane 200, and these heat pipes arejuxtaposed flush in the accommodating trough 12 of the fixing base 10.The condenser sections 22 of the heat pipes 20 are connected with aheat-dissipating fins assembly 40. In use, the plane 200 is adhered tothe surface of a heat-generating element 50. In the present embodiment,the heat-generating element 50 is a CPU disposed on a circuit board.Thus, the heat generated by the heat-generating element 50 can beconducted to the evaporator sections 21 of the heat pipes 20. Then, theheat is transferred from the evaporator sections 21 of the heat pipes 20to their condenser sections 22. Finally, the heat is transferred fromthe condenser sections 22 of the heat pipes 20 to the heat-dissipatingfins assembly 40 having a larger heat-dissipating area. In this way, theheat generated by the heat-generating element 50 can be transferred tothe heat-dissipating fins assembly 40 via the heat pipes 20, therebydissipating the heat gradually.

Please refer to FIG. 10, which is a flow chart showing the process forflush connecting evaporator sections of juxtaposed heat pipes to afixing base according to the present invention (also refer to FIGS. 2 to9). The process includes the steps as follows. First, in the step 61, afixing base 10 is provided with its bottom surface 11 having anaccommodating trough 12. In the step 62, at least two heat pipes 20 eachhaving an evaporator section 21 and a condenser section 22 are provided.Then, in the step 63, the evaporator sections 21 of the heat pipes 20are disposed in the accommodating trough 12. Finally, in the step 64,via the machining of a rolling die 30, the evaporator sections 21 of theheat pipes 20 are rolled at least one time, thereby forming a plane 200on the evaporator sections 21 of the heat pipes 20. The plane 200 ishigher than or in flush with the bottom surface 11 of the fixing base10. The step of disposing the evaporator sections 21 of the heat pipes20 in the accommodating trough 12 can be performed in such a manner thatthe evaporator section 21 of one of the heat pipes 20 is first disposedin the accommodating trough 12, and then the evaporator sections 21 ofat least one heat pipe 20 are pressed into the accommodating trough 12.In the present embodiment, the evaporator sections 21 of two of the heatpipes 20 are disposed in the accommodating trough 12, and then theevaporator section 21 of at least one heat pipes 20 is pressed into theaccommodating trough 12. Alternatively, the evaporator sections 21 ofthe heat pipes 20 are juxtaposed on the accommodating trough 12, andthen the evaporator sections 21 of the juxtaposed heat pipes 20 arepressed into the accommodating trough 12.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the evaporator sections21 of at least two heat pipes 20 can be disposed simultaneously in theaccommodating trough 12 of the fixing base 10, so that the evaporatorsections 21 of the heat pipes 20 and the heat-generating element 50 canbe brought into a surface contact, thereby increasing the contact areabetween the evaporator sections 21 of the heat pipes 20 and theheat-generating element 50. In this way, the heat of the heat-generatingelement 50 can be dissipated quickly and the heat-conducting efficiencycan be improved.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to theforegoing preferred embodiment, it will be understood that the inventionis not limited to the details thereof. Various equivalent variations andmodifications can still occur to those skilled in this art in view ofthe teachings of the present invention. Thus, all such variations andequivalent modifications are also embraced within the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A process for flush connecting evaporator sections (21) of juxtaposedheat pipes (20) to a fixing base (10), comprising the steps of: a)providing a fixing base (10) with a bottom surface (11) thereof havingan accommodating trough (12); b) providing at least two heat pipes (20)each having an evaporator section (21) and a condenser section (22); c)disposing the evaporator sections (21) of the heat pipes (20) in theaccommodating trough (12); and d) machining the evaporator sections (21)of the juxtaposed heat pipes (20), thereby forming a plane (200) on theevaporator sections (21) of the heat pipe (20).
 2. The process for flushconnecting evaporator sections (21) of juxtaposed heat pipes (20) to afixing base (10) according to claim 1, wherein the step (b) is performedby providing at least three heat pipes (20).
 3. The process for flushconnecting evaporator sections (21) of juxtaposed heat pipes (20) to afixing base (10) according to claim 2, wherein the step (c) is performedby first disposing the evaporator sections (21) of two of the heat pipes(20) in the accommodating trough (12), and then pressing the evaporatorsections (21) of at least one heat pipe (20) in the accommodating trough(12).
 4. The process for flush connecting evaporator sections (21) ofjuxtaposed heat pipes (20) to a fixing base (10) according to claim 1,wherein the step (c) is performed by first disposing the evaporatorsection (21) of one of the heat pipes (20) in the accommodating trough(12), and then pressing the evaporator sections (21) of at least oneheat pipe (20) in the accommodating trough (12).
 5. The process forflush connecting evaporator sections (21) of juxtaposed heat pipes (20)to a fixing base (10) according to claim 1, wherein the step (c) isperformed by first juxtaposing the evaporator sections (21) of the heatpipes (20) on the accommodating trough (12), and then pressing theevaporator sections (21) of the juxtaposed heat pipes (20) in theaccommodating trough (12).
 6. The process for flush connectingevaporator sections (21) of juxtaposed heat pipes (20) to a fixing base(10) according to claim 1, wherein the machining step is performed byrolling, pressing or die-pressing.
 7. The process for flush connectingevaporator sections (21) of juxtaposed heat pipes (20) to a fixing base(10) according to claim 1, wherein the plane (200) formed on theevaporator sections (21) of the heat pipes (20) is higher than thebottom surface (11) of the fixing base (10).
 8. The process for flushconnecting evaporator sections (21) of juxtaposed heat pipes (20) to afixing base (10) according to claim 1, wherein the plane (200) formed onthe evaporator sections (21) of the heat pipes (20) is in flush with thebottom surface (11) of the fixing base (10).
 9. The process for flushconnecting evaporator sections (21) of juxtaposed heat pipes (20) to afixing base (10) according to claim 1, wherein the evaporator sections(21) of the heat pipes (20) are machined at least one time.
 10. Anassembly for flush connecting evaporator sections (21) of juxtaposedheat pipes (20) to a fixing base (10), comprising: a fixing base (10)with a bottom surface (11) thereof having an accommodating trough (12);and at least two heat pipes (20) each having an evaporator section (21)and a condenser section (22), the evaporator sections (21) of the heatpipes (20) being juxtaposed in the accommodating trough (12), wherein asurface of the evaporator sections (21) of the juxtaposed heat pipes(20) is machined to form a plane (200) that is not lower than the bottomsurface (11) of the fixing base (10).
 11. The assembly for flushconnecting evaporator sections (21) of juxtaposed heat pipes (20) to afixing base (10) according to claim 10, wherein the plane (200) formedon the evaporator sections (21) of the heat pipes (20) is higher thanthe bottom surface (11) of the fixing base (10).
 12. The assembly forflush connecting evaporator sections (21) of juxtaposed heat pipes (20)to a fixing base (10) according to claim 10, wherein the plane (200)formed on the evaporator sections (21) of the heat pipes (20) is inflush with the bottom surface (11) of the fixing base (10).